Fire extinguisher head assembly



Aug. 20, 1963 c. K. HUTHSIv NG, JR 3,

FIRE EXTINGUISHER HEAD ASSEMBLY Filed Au 5. 1960 I3 24 26' 26 I8 I2 l6 INVENTOR. CHARLES K. HUTHSING Jr.

wwzpmw A TTORN E Y5 United States Patent 3,101,120 FIRE EXTINGUISHER HEAD ASSEMBLY Charles K. Huthsing, Jr., 1685 Shermer Road, Northbrook, Ill. Filed Aug. 5, 1960, Ser. No. 47,779 7 Claims. (Cl. 169-31) This invention generally relates to head assemblies used in conjunction with portable tank or cylinder type fire extinguishers, and more particularly concerns an improved co-operatively functioning carrying handleand lever unit for supporting and operating the extinguisher,

An object of the present invention is to provide an improved fire extinguisher head assembly in which the operating lever and the carrying handle are inter-linked to facilitate operation, save space, economize production, and yet provide a rugged, maintenance-free design.

A further object of the present invention is to provide an improved fire extinguisher head assembly in which the carrying means are centrally disposed relative to the center of gravity of the tank 'or cylinder to enable easier support of the unit during operation and movementfrom place to place.

Still a further object of the present invention is to pro vide an improved fire extinguisher head assembly of -a less bulky construction than in conventional units, and which furthermore results in an overall decrease of the extinguisher dimensions.

These and other objects of the present invention are generally achieved by providing in a fire extinguisher a tank with a head body or assembly coupled thereto, and a valve stem extending from the head body in a conven tional manner. Spring means are embodied in thehe'ad body to bias the stem towards its extended position.

As a feature of the present invention, a carrying handle is rigidly coupled to the head assembly, and the carrying handle as such has pivotably coupled thereto an operating lever, which is positioned for actuation of the valve stem. I

In a preferred embodiment, a cam is additionally pivoted to the head body, the cam having a first portion thereof designed to engage the valve stem and another portion thereof designed to be engaged by the operating lever in response to pivotable movement of the latter.

A better understanding of the improved fireextinguisher head assembly, according to'the present invention, may be had by reference to the drawings, showing merely an illustrative embodiment, and in which: FIGURE -1 is a sectional view through the improved fire extinguisher head assembly illustrating its coupled relationship to a tank or cylinder member; and,

FIGURE 2 is an exploded, perspective view of the carrying handle, operating'lever, and cam embodied in the head assembly of FIGURE 1.

Referring now to the drawings, there is shown in FIG- URE 1 an extinguisher tank 10, which for purposes of the present description .may be considered to retain a proceeds.

present invention, generally designated by the numeral 11. The head assembly or head body 11 has rigidily coupled thereto a carrying handle 12. The carrying handle 12 has pivota-bly coupled thereto an operating lever,

13-. The discharge of the extinguisher takes place through a hose14. I

- Referring now to the foregoing main components in detail, the carrying handle 12, as more clearly seen in the viewof FIGURE 2, embodies side members 15 and 16, a bottom member 17, and an upper member 18. The upper member extends .only partially throughout the length of the carrying handle 12. 1

The carrying handle 12 is provided with openings 19 and 20 in its sidemem'ber 15, and the corresponding aligned-openings 19' and 20" in side member'16. "It is further provided With'a' pair of aligned openings 21 and 21'- in'its side members 15 and 16, respectively. The

openings 19 and 19' are designed to be aligned with an opening22 in'the head body 11; and, the openings, 20

and 20 are designed tobe aligned With an opening 23' therein. Rivets or the like are passed through these aligned openings to rigidly couple theha-ndle 12 to the head body' 11. v v

Theopenings'ZIand 21 'are designed to receive a lock pin or the'like 24 (shown in FIGURE 1) for a purpose that will become clearer as the specification ""'I'he'handle 12 is further provided with an opening 25 and an" opening 25' in its side members 15 and: 16, respectively, for forming a pivotable connection 'With an opening 26 in the operating lever 13.

Thus the operating lever 13 may be pivotably carried by apin or the like 26' coupled 'to -the'side, members 15 and i the carrying handle 12 in the openings 25. and 25'. The operating lever 13, as more clearly shown in the view of FIGURE 2, includes an upper portion 27 and'si de portions 28. It further embodies a downwardly extending tab or tongue 29 proximate its pivoted conneetion"26-26'. The tab 29 limits clockwise movement ofthe operating lever 13 relative to its pivot point, as viewed in FIGURE 1. r

" Extending upwardly intothe interior of the operating lever is a cam 30, also shown more clearly in the view of FIGURE 2, which em bodies an upper member 31 and side members 32 and 33-. The cam 30 is provided with aligned openings 33- and 34 in its side members 31 and 32 for pivotable coupling to the head body 11 as at 35. As seen in FIGURE 1, the cam member 30 is normally biased to a canted or angulated position. Preferably, thefcarn member'30 is so constructed as to embody in its upper member 31 arcuate surface portions 31a, 31b, and 310. The purpose of these arcuate surface portions will be more clearly understood as the specification proceeds. H I r "The cam 30 is biased upwardly, as heretofore mentioned, by a conventional plunger unit or valve stem 36, the upper end of which engages the bottom or inner side Walls of the arcuate surface portion 31b. The plunger or valve stem 36 conventionally includes an-O-ring seal 37 and terminates at its lower end in a valve unit 38 opening into a discharge chamber 39 and designed to seal in the head body 11 in the position shown in FIGURE 1.

A spring means 40 biases the valve 38 towards its seated position. The spring means 40 is disposed within a spring retainer 41 which may be threaded as indicated to the head body 11. Coupled to the lower end of the spring retainer 41 is a conventional discharge tube 4-2.

In order to retain the head body 11 in sealed and coupled relationship to the tank It the tank It) has welded thereto a collar 43. A nut 44 is provided with an inner flange to overlap the head body 11 and is designed for threaded connection to the upstanding collar 43. An annular seal 45 of angular cross section is provided for effecting a double sealing action between the head body 11, the collar 43, and the encircling nut 44.

The operational features of the improved head assembly, according to the present invention, may now be described. Initially, it should be pointed out that the head body is positioned proximate the side walls of the tank rather than centrally disposed as in conventional constructions. In this regard, it is desirable that the head body 11 be canted or angulated with respect to the axis of the tank 10, whereby the carrying handle 12 will be substantially in a horizontal plane. Furthermore, it will be appreciated that the carrying handle 12 'will be centrally disposed over the center of gravity of the tank 10 to facilitate carrying and moving of the extinguisher to various locations. In addition, as a consequence of the positioning of the head body close to the side walls of the tank 10, it will be appreciated that the overall length of the unit is decreased thereby enabling more convenient storage and shipment. p

-In the view of FIGURE 1, the extinguisher assembly is shown in its normal configuration. To operate the unit, it is merely. necessary to grasp the carrying handle 12 with the four fingers of one hand and force the operating lever 13 downwardly with the thumb of the same hand. As this action occurs, the operating lever will pivot about the pin 26' and in turn effect a pivot of the cam 30 about its pivoted connection 35 to thehead body 11. As this motion occurs, the arcuate surface 31a of the cam 30 will ride along the underside of the upper member 27 of the lever 13 while the underside of the arcuate surface 31b of the cam 30 will be engaging the end of the plunger or valve stem 36 in a sliding downward motion. The remaining arcuate surface 310 of the cam 30' is designed so that it is spaced sufliciently from the head body 11 so as to not engage the head body 11 during its path of travel in response to pivotal movement effected by the lever 13.

In this regard, it should be noted that the cam 30 closes the upper portion of the head body 11 as well as the valve stem or plunger 36. As a consequence, the cam 30' prevents any tampering with the operation of the unit by forcing of the valve stem downwardly by foreign objects or tools. Thus, the operator of the extinguisher tioned, such that the cam cannot become disengaged, relative to its proper positioning, from the lever 13.

As an additional feature of the present invention, it will be noted that the lock pin 24 not only prevents downward movement of the operating lever 13 but also prevents movement of the cam 30. In other words, as heretofore mentioned, tampering with the unit or inadvertent operation thereof is substantially impossible.

Although a preferred embodiment has been shown and described, it will be appreciated that various modifications and changes may be made to the improved fire extinguisher head assembly of the present invention without departing from the spirit and scope thereof as set forth in the following claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In a fire extinguisher designed for manual carrying by an operator thereof: a tank; a head body coupled to said tank; a valve stem extending from said head body; spring means in said head body biasing said stem to its extended position; an elongated hand gripping member having one end rigidly coupled to said head body, said member extending laterally away from said head body to its other end, and said member beingdesigned to be retained and gripped by a hand of the operator; and, a lever pivotably connected and protruding above the upper portion of said member intermediate said one end and said other end and positioned for actuation of said valve stem by the thumb of an operators hand gripping said member.

2. 'The subject matter, according to claim l, and a cam pivoted to said head body, said cam having a first portion thereof adapted to engage said valve stem and another can alwaysbe assured, assuming the conventional sealing member has not been broken, that the extinguisher has full pressure and has not previously been operated.

It will also be evident that by interposing the pivoted cam 30 between the valve stem 36 and the operating lever 13, a doubling of the mechanical lever arm advantage is attained. If necessary, this lever arm'advantage can even be further increased by lengthening the cam member 30 such that its surface 31a is disposed closer to the pivot point 26'.

As soon as the valve stem 36 has been forced sufficiently downwardly to unseat the valve 38, the extinguishing agent or liquid within the tank 10 will be forced by pressure outwardly through the discharge tube 42 and thereafter past the valve 38 and out through the discharge chamber 39 into the hose 14 in a conventional manner.

Upon release of pressure upon the operating lever 13, it will be biased again to the position of FIGURE 1. In this regard, it should be noted that the tab 29 limits the clockwise movement of the lever 13; as heretofore menportion thereof designed to be engaged by said lever in response to pivotable movement of said lever.

3. In a fire extinguisher designed for manual carrying by an operator thereof: a tank; a head body coupled proximate the sidewalls of said tank; a valve stem extending from said head body; spring means in said head body biasing said stem to its extended position; an elongated hand gripping member having one end rigidly coupled to said head body, said member extending laterally from said body to its other end, and said member being de signed to be retained and gripped by a hand of the operator; and, a lever pivotably connected to and protruding above the upper portion of said member intermediate said one end and said other end, said lever being positioned for actuation of said valve stern by the thumb of an operators hand gripping said member.

4. In a fire extinguisher designed for manual carrying by an operator thereof: a tank; a head body coupled to said tank; a valve stem extending from said head body; spring means in said head body biasing said stem to its extended position; an elongated hand gripping member having one end rigidly coupled to said head body, said member exteding laterally from said head body to its other end, and said member being designed to be retained and gripped by a hand of the operator; a lever pivotably connected to and protruding above an intermediate portion of said member, said lever having one end portion extending over said valve stem; a cam pivotably coupled to said head body and having a portion thereof interposed between and in engagement with said valve stem and said lever, whereby actuation of said lever in a given direction will effect actuation of said valve stem by means of said cam.

5. The subject matter, according to claim 4, and a removable lock pin coupled to said member in a position to prevent pivotable movement of said lever and said cam.

6. The subject matter, according to claim 5, and a protruding tab extending from the other end portion of said lever to limit movement of said lever in an opposite direction by engaging said member.

7. In a fire extinguisher designed for manual carrying by an operator thereof: a tank; a head body coupled to said tank at a point closer to the sidewalls of said tank than to the axis of said tank; a valve stem extending from said head body; spring means in said head body biasing said stem to its extended position; an elongated hand grip-'- ping member having one end rigidly coupled to said head body, said member extending laterally from'said head body to its other end in a direction super-imposed over the central part of said tank, and said member being designed 5 to be retained and gripped by-a hand of the operator so as to conveniently carry said tank with the center of mass being substantially disposed centrally below the operators hand; a lever pivotably connected to and protruding above valve'stem and said lever, whereby actuation of said lever in a given direction Will effect actuation of said valve stern by means of said cam.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,580,448 Mapes'et al; Ian. 1, 195,2 2,649,919 Weaver et al.' Aug. '25, 1953 2,704,582 Bowman Mar. 22, 1955 2,744,580 Schroed May 8, 1956 2,778,434 Hastert et al. Jan. 22, 1957 2,908,334 Duggan et al ct. 3, 1959 2,926,731

Bowman et al Mar. 1, 1960 

1. IN A FIRE EXTINGUISHER DESIGNED FOR MANUAL CARRYING BY AN OPERATOR THEREOF: A TANK; A HEAD BODY COUPLED TO SAID TANK; A VALVE STEM EXTENDING FROM SAID HEAD BODY; SPRING MEANS IN SAID HEAD BODY BIASING SAID STEM TO ITS EXTENDED POSITION; AN ELONGATED HAND GRIPPING MEMBER HAVING ONE END RIGIDLY COUPLED TO SAID HEAD BODY, SAID MEMBER EXTENDING LATERALLY AWAY FROM SAID HEAD BODY TO ITS OTHER END, AND SAID MEMBER BEING DESIGNED TO BE RETAINED 